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The Purpose for the support groups



We realise that fostering can be really difficult at times. Perhaps the only people who really understand it are other foster carers and so therefore we want to give you a place to meet up.

There will be biscuits and/or cake, coffee, tea, and an opportunity for an informal chat at all of the meetings.

Although these will be informal meetings, each session will have a brief agenda, attendance list, and agreed group rules. This is to help those who don’t know anyone and feel awkward about coming along to a new meeting, to feel that they won’t be left alone on the side-lines.

Sometimes there will be speakers and topics as requested by the group, this will hopefully make it as relevant to your fostering as you like.

These sessions should be recorded on your Personal Development Plan (PDP).

Mavis Mukambirwa will also be doing a presentation during this session.

Click here to join training session

This one day programme is intended for any individuals from the Council and staff from all Statutory, Voluntary and Independent sectors working with people with Epilepsy.

Non-care staff need only attend the morning session of this course.

The course is a combination of interactive discussion, demonstration and practice with equipment and group work.

The standard charge for this course is £103.50 per day. Please refer to our Course Charges on the Home page for information on discounts and exemptions

We realise that fostering can be really difficult at times. Perhaps the only people who really understand it are other foster carers and so therefore we want to give you a place to meet up.

There will be biscuits and/or cake, coffee, tea, and an opportunity for an informal chat at all of the meetings.

Although these will be informal meetings, each session will have a brief agenda, attendance list, and agreed group rules. This is to help those who don’t know anyone and feel awkward about coming along to a new meeting, to feel that they won’t be left alone on the side-lines.

Signs of Safety- Bitesize session- Building on families strengths

A bitesize session for people working with children and families in South Gloucestershire to be able to explore and gain confidence in building on families strengths using strength and safety questions.

Please note: All attendees must have already attended Signs of Safety Awareness session or Signs of Safety 2 day training to be able to attend this course

Supporting adult relationships.
Arguments in relationships are part of everyday life, evidence suggests that arguments between parents/carers is normal, but if exposure is frequent, intense, and poorly resolved, this can have a damaging impact on children, resulting in long-term mental health issues, emotional, behavioural, and academic problems as they grow up.

Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 390 979 433 379
Passcode: sPgbnx


• Criteria for EHCP referrals
• Stages of the EHCP Process (including role of Social Workers)
• Support for parents
• Case Study Example
• Opportunities for questions

Please click here to view and download the course handouts

The course resources are available for digital download and storage and for use and reference during or after the event, whichever you prefer.

Also, please be aware that some of the resources contain sensitive content, that you may find upsetting. This training aims to educate and raise awareness, but it can evoke emotional responses, particularly for individuals with personal connections to child or adult bereavements, or the incidents themselves.

If you find the content overwhelming, we encourage you to prioritise your well-being. Take breaks, reflect on your boundaries, and seek support from trusted individuals or professionals as needed. For assistance during or after the training, please reach out to the trainer or your line manager in the first instance, contact Interchange the staff counselling service, or you can also access Thrive.

We are committed to creating an inclusive learning environment and promoting empathy and respect for all.

This course is delivered on behalf of the South Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children's Partnership.

Participants should be only those who have already completed the Introduction to Child Protection and Advanced-level of Child Protection training within statutory or setting-related timescales, and who now need to maintain this level of training.

Participants will be expected to have a good working knowledge of safeguarding with experience of statutory and local child protection responsibilities and procedures.

Effective child protection depends not only on reliable and accepted procedures for all staff involved with children, but also on their skills, knowledge and judgment and the ability to work together co-operatively.

Staff with lead roles in child protection require specialised training in order to carry out their work with abused children and families.

The learning outcomes for this training are designed to ensure that all participants receive updates in the latest child protection legislation, statutory guidance, local policies, procedures and professional requirements.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 838 2615 6671
Passcode: 870094

This training is for people who will be using the Signs of Safety approach in their day-to-day work with children, young people and their families or carers. It is also relevant for people who will be supervising others who are using the approach. The two day Signs of Safety Introduction training is provided by accredited external trainers and places are limited. Key Integrated Children's Services staff to attend are those who chair key meetings and who undertake statutory assessments gathering information from other agencies and where the outcome has a considerable impact on the life of a child/family.
Course Duration: Two days
Course Aims: This training provides practitioners and managers with the skills and knowledge to be able to start to use the Signs of Safety approach in their practice.

The WAYPOINT (Working Alongside Young People & Others In Networks Therapeutically) Team is part of the Fostering Service. WAYPOINT provide therapeutically informed support to children, families, foster carers, and professional networks. This support is additional to the support provided by your supervising social worker and children’s social workers.

The monthly WAYPOINT Drop-in sessions are facilitated by Dan Charnock, WAYPOINT Senior Social Worker and are open to all mainstream foster carers. The aim of the WAYPOINT Drop in is to provide a reflective and open space for foster carers to come along and discuss issues or concerns you may be facing. While each session includes a space to reflect on challenges, there is also a significant focus on sharing strategies and thinking about therapeutic approaches to difficult situations and celebrating successes.

You don’t have to be going through a difficult time to attend – peer support, learning and reflection is always valuable, and there is no pressure for anyone to share within the sessions. Topics for each session tend to arise on the day, ensuring the focus is relevant to the content brought to the drop in. However, there is also the option to agree a topic for a future session to enable a more in-depth focus. Discussion often includes topics such as attachment, trauma, and use of therapeutic approaches such as PACE and NVR, and ideas come not only from Dan but from within the group.